“I’ll fight him,” Ben said as he squeezed in closer, until I was surrounded by my family.
I choked out something between a laugh and a cry. “I apologized and tried to make amends after I told him the truth, but he wants our land so badly.”
“That bird-witted—” Ben started.
“Whey-faced—” Father spat.
“Loose in the haft—” Mama said, then covered her mouth with both hands.
I drew in an audible breath, and Ben laughed aloud.
Father’s brows touched his hairline. “Darling?”
“Forgive me.” Her cheeks pinked. “I must speak a truth of my own. Rosalind, you have polished yourself and endured my lectures for weeks now. I wanted to prepare you to be favored by Her Grace, but the truth is, Her Grace is a miserable, conceited—”
“Mama!” I breathed.
“—horrible tripe of a woman who sees fault in nearly anyone and everything.” Then she smiled hesitantly. “In truth, I am relieved to hear you will not proceed. You are perfect in every way that matters, and no amount of further polishing will change that. I thought you were happy and only a bit nervous. I was so focused on making everything perfect that I did not stop to truly see. But I am your mother. I should have known, and I am sorry.”
I pulled Mama close. “How could you have known? When I did not even realize myself before it was too late?”
“I will speak to His Grace,” Father said brusquely.
“Father, he meant his threats,” I said, pulling away from Mama. But she kept hold of my arm.
“His threats are weak. That he made them is a testament to how desperate he is. His father would be ashamed.” Father looked at his desk and shook his head. “Iam ashamed. I thought he saw a greater benefit to your union than merely the acquisition of the land. Had I known his aim was singly guided, I would never have bargained with him. A man with no honor is not worthy of my daughter, titled or not.”
“I am sorry, Father. I wanted so badly to bring a title to the family.”
He raised a hand. “Why do you think it has taken our family generations to marry into one?”
“Mama said there hasn’t been an opportunity before me.”
“My younger sister, Alice, had men banging down our door religiously,” Father mused. “I remember our father pleading with her to marry a baron. But she’d met Marvin Allen at some dinner party, and before we knew it, he was in Father’s study, offering everything he had for a chance at her happiness.”
“Aunt Alice?” I asked.
“Aunt Alice.” Father nodded. “I now see why Father flipped a table when he learned that Alice had chosen a banker over a baron. But I also see why he smiled when he walked her down the aisle all the same. Because as angry as I want to be, I know I do not have much time left to call you mine.”
“Oh, Fredrick,” Mama cried.
“Well said.” Ben clapped lightly before clasping his hands in front of him. “Now, who wants to go and tell our guests the happy news?”
ChapterTwenty-Eight
I paced the floor of the drawing room while Ben and Mama sat nearby. After our family meeting, Father had walked us out and invited Marlow into his study. The clock on the mantel told me the two men had been conversing—and yelling—for more than an hour now.
Only pieces of conversation carried through the slits in the doorframe. Something about “If your father were still alive” followed by, “You will be in my debt for the rest of your life.”
The duchess had vanished into the foyer. Their empty carriage pulled up and waited in the drive. I watched as servants carried bags and luggage down and loaded them onto the carriage. They were leaving, but on what terms?
Then the door to Father’s study opened and footsteps sounded down the hall.
Low voices murmured, then the entry door opened and closed. Ben and Mama stood and joined me in the center of the room.
Father walked in. His face was weary. “There will be no wedding. And he has agreed to part amicably. Though we are being robbed, for I’ve agreed to sell the land for the same price your great-grandfather purchased it.”
Ben blew out a breath. “Robbed, indeed. There goes your pin money and your entire dowry, Ros.”
